27th and 28th March
Light northerly winds on the 27th moved slowly
round to the east giving us a sense of anticipation for the week ahead and it
started well with the first 2 Wheatears
of the year seen at the top end of the island – a pretty decent earlyish
arrival date for us; other landbirds through the day included a good influx of
151+ Meadow Pipits, a Dunnock, 13 Redwings, 6 Goldcrests, a Rook and 15 Snow
Buntings.
One Pink-footed
Goose remained with the 708 Greylags counted while other little bits of note
comprised 12 Red-breasted Mergansers, a ringtail Hen Harrier and single Water
Rail, Jack Snipe and Black-tailed Godwit with the long-staying 2nd
winter Glaucous Gull still present.
Pied Wagtail, photo Simon Davies
It
was straight easterly the next day so it was no surprise that there were some
additions to the year list with pride of place going to a Hawfinch which dropped in briefly to Holland in the afternoon while
the single Brambling and Chiffchaff that were there in the
morning were also new for the year as was a male White Wagtail near Gretchen.
Other
counts included 29 Pied Wagtails, 22 Redwings, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 5 Goldcrests
and a littoralis Rock Pipit while the Glaucous Gull again mooched around the
top end.
Nearly a Rock Dove! photo Simon Davies
Redwing, photo Simon Davies
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